(Dragonkin) Dragon Rider (16 page)

*****

Thadric watched the courier as he rode into the courtyard. Standing at the window as he always did, he looked down at Magdrin as it spread out beneath him. The city was more than just the capital of his realm, for it had been the home of his family for more than five generations now. The castle was built to withstand a siege, and was well equipped to do so. It was the center of all of the trade in the south, and some of the best artisans in the empire, plied their trades here.

   His ancestors had built it long ago, as the center of business for the realm, but in those days the south was still wild, and most of the towns and villages were in the northern part of the realm. Now there were very little wild lands left in the south, and each year it was growing even smaller. The farms were growing larger, and small villages were popping up farther, and farther south. Thadric would have been getting richer over the years, but he made his realm richer instead. He paid his guard better than the other regents paid theirs, and he was beginning to build garrisons in all of the towns of his realm. The garrison and the solders it housed, could cover the smaller villages around the towns if trouble came, and with the realm next to Beloran's, trouble was never far away.

   Thadric walked back to his desk, and sat in the same chair as his father had used, and his father before him. The courier would be there soon, and he wondered what it could be this time. The royal courier departed from Magdrin less than a week ago, and Thadric was making the plans for the trip to the capitol, even now. Thadric was the closest of the regents to Corlindum, and did not have to leave as soon as the others. It was barely a two-week journey for him, and the roads were well traveled in this part of the realm.

   "What have you got for me?" He asked the courier when he walked into the office.

   "It is a letter from the Steward of the Great Empire." The man replied, and he handed the official looking envelope with the wax seal to the regent.

   "Was there anything else?" Thadric asked, as he took the envelope.

   The courier was so serious about his position, and that of the steward of the realms, it made Thadric smile. The steward was no more than a puppet for the regents, he thought. He deserved a lot more respect than he received from them, but Beloran kept his foot on the mans throat, so to speak.

   "No sir." The courier replied, and turned to leave.

   "Thank you." The regent said to the retreating figure.

   A letter from the steward was not all that uncommon for Thadric, for he had known Semeon since he was a boy, and they had spent a lot of time together in their youth. Their fathers had fought together several times when they were young, and saw each other often over the years. Thadric liked the man, and treated him like a member of the royal house, which he was to a degree. He was the only male descendent of the last ruler of the old dragon empire, and of the dragon riders themselves.

   Thadric looked at the letter, and the official seal of the empire. Semeon only used the ring to seal the letters that were of an official nature, and he had just received the summons. He opened the letter and read it.

Hello my friend. There is news about the Empire I thought you should know. A Dragon Warrior has returned to the realms, but I have no idea what it means. I am sure you have heard the tales about him, but what you do not know, is that they are all true. I have summoned him to the council, but I will not allow Beloran to take him to his dungeon. I hoped you would help me with this problem.

Your friend Semeon

   Thadric finished the letter and put it down on his desk. The man in the dragon armor did not worry him, but Beloran would be a problem without a doubt. He was the hardest man to reason with that Thadric had ever known, but the time had come to think about the empire, and not Beloran. He would do what he could, but he would have to leave early, and talk to Semeon personally.

   Stepping up his timetable only took half an hour; but his son was not back from the west yet, and it worried him. If he were not back by morning, Thadric would send a patrol to go and find him. His wife would not go to Corlindum with him in the past, and this time was no different. She preferred to spend her time in the gardens, entertaining the wealthier ladies of Magdrin. Landris on the other hand, would be very angry if he were not here to ride with the solders to the capital.

   Dranella sat in her room, and looked out the window at the city below. It was the place that she always sat when her mother was entertaining her guests. The trip to Corlindum was just in time she thought, and a break from her mother would do her some good, but they were never gone long enough to suit her. She was tired of the fancy dances, and the fake smiles that came along with them. She wanted some adventure and excitement, but women of standing did not get to do such things.

   She was older than any of the daughters of the other regents, but she did not look like it. She had turned twenty-six within the last two months, but only looked nineteen, if that. Sometimes it was not so bad, but most of the time she hated it. No one took her seriously until she forced him or her too, and still they treated her like a child. She had a very pretty face with big brown eyes, and dark brown hair braided down her back. Her arms and hands were very delicate, but held strength beyond their appearance. She was only five foot tall, and in her gowns looked delicate as a flower, but was also well endowed. If she did not look so young, you could say she was a very beautiful woman.

   Landris rode in late that evening, with the extra horses trailing behind him. He halted in front of the stables by the open door, and handed the lead rope of the animals to the stable master. These horses had come from Argnon, but the regent was not the one who sold them to him. The innkeeper, and owner of the Red Falcon, Farlin, had sent them, and they were the finest animals he had seen in a long time. They cost him a little more, but there were two stallions in the group, and figured they would be worth it in the end.

   He told his father about the horses, and went to the kitchens to find something to eat. Two weeks on the road to where he picked up the horses, and the same two weeks to return had tired him out. Now, there was a council of regents to attend, and he had to be ready by the morning after next.

   "Another two weeks in the saddle again," he thought. "Well, at least there would be plenty to eat along the way."

   Landis was not the best looking man in the realm, but he was the best fighter, and all the people loved him as much as they loved his father. He had a small scar on his left cheek that gave him an older, and wiser appearance, and it made him more attractive to the women of the realm. He wore the armor of the army, and the emblem of the realm, wherever he went, and treated everyone with respect. Even those he had to arrest for whatever reason were treated with kindness and compassion. He had killed several men in his life, and received the scar on his cheek from one of them, but he did not like to kill, and avoided it if he could. His hair was cut in the warrior fashion, and was tied back with a strip of rawhide leather. If it were not for the emblem of the regent he wore, he would have looked like any other solder in the guard.

   Thadric stayed up late that night, thinking about the council meetings to come. He hated to go to them because of Beloran, but had liked them before Beloran's father died, and Beloran had become the regent. They had conducted the business of the empire in the past, but now it was all about the spoiled brat of a boy, Beloran. Falendor was the youngest, but Beloran was not much older. Falendor's father was killed protecting his realm, while Beloran was suspected of poisoning his father to become the regent sooner. No one could ever prove it, though his sister and brother tried. He imprisoned them later for treason, and had them executed not long after. Thadric feared the man and his ambition out of experience, and knew his son was not safe from Beloran's reach. It was common knowledge that he had assassins on his payroll, but it could not be proven in the court of the empire.

   Everything was made ready for the journey that day, and the packs only needed to be loaded on the horses the next morning. Thadric and Dranella were riding in the carriage, and Landis would be on his horse at the front of the guard. Thadric walked through the castle one last time before retiring for the night, and made sure that the servants had their work completed.

   When the regent stepped into the carriage the next morning, Dranella was waiting for him inside. He smiled at her as he entered, and kissed her on the cheek. When the door to the carriage was closed, Landis led the way north, and out of Magdrin. With the banners of his house flying before him, the yellow and white colors of the southern regent took the road, and the journey had begun. Thadric hoped that this council of regents would be different than the last few council meetings he had attended, but there was no way he could have known how different it would turn out to be.

Chapter Thirteen

   Falendor walked away from the window where he had watched the solders ride into town, and down the stairs of the tower. Captain Brannor and his men rode into the garrison, along with Menimeth and his companions, followed by Commander Rayden and the solders of the Lost Cavalry. The box was all the regent could think about, and he wondered if the warrior had actually found it. He was excited about the prospect of what the box held, but annoyed by the reception the man in the dragon armor had received from the people of the town. The whole town was out to see them as they arrived, and the people cheered them as they rode in.

   Chrisanna stood on the balcony, and watched as the solders rode into the garrison. The sight of the different groups of solders as they rode in through the gates, was one she had never seen before, but she looked for Menimeth and his companions most of all. She watched as they dismounted, and her heart pounded as they walk through the castle gates.

   Saesic stood in the shadows by his widow, and watched the dragon warrior ride in with his companions as well, and the twenty-one cavalrymen dressed in strange armor that followed him. Who were these new solders he wondered, and where did they come from. This was an unforeseen event, and he would have to find out more about them. He did not want anything to interfere with his plans, and these new solders could be a problem.

   Menimeth dropped from Donner, and Chanry was soon by his side. Litlorn and Javen joined them, but Kyler and Feran took the horses, and rode to the Red Falcon to secure their rooms.

   Commander Rayden had his men dismount, and make camp in the open space between the road and the Fairgrounds, because it was the place set aside for the solders of visiting diplomats. Dorben followed his commander to where Menimeth and his friends waited with Captain Brannor, for the regent to send for them. After the ten days they had ridden with Captain Brannor, and the four days with Menimeth and his dragon, Commander Rayden and Dorben decided Menimeth was the man to follow, and the one who could help them get their kingdom back. Fighting the forces of the mage king in the dragon empire would be an incentive for his men to train harder, and it would boost their moral. They hated Arnoran more than anything else, and wanted revenge for their kinsmen, and country.

   Falendor waited anxiously for the men to enter, and Chrisanna stood behind her father to the side, and watched for the men with anticipation. Saesic was there as well, but he stood behind the tapestry in a hidden doorway and listened.

   When the men entered the hall, it was lined with people on both sides, who waited to see dragon warrior. Menimeth and Litlorn walked to the steps that led to the official seat of the regent, followed by Commander Rayden, Dorben, and then the others. Chanry was beside his master of course, and watched the regent suspiciously. Menimeth carried the box in his hands, and the regent's eyes could look at nothing else, as the men approached.

   "I see you have found the box." He said to Menimeth, when they had stopped in front of him.

   "Yes I did, with the help of my friend Chanry." Menimeth said, and put his hand on the boy's head.

   He handed the box to Chanry, and the boy walked up the stairs and handed it to the regent, before returning to his master. Falendor was impressed with the loyalty he showed the warrior, and liked the headstrong young boy.

   "You have granted my request, and I shall grant yours. The men of the fair are free to return to their homes, and I am sending a few of the wounded who have served their time home as well."

   "I thank you for your kindness and generosity." Menimeth replied as he bowed to the regent.

   "And who are these strange solders behind you, I do not believe I recognize the emblem on their cloak?" Falendor asked.

   "I am Commander Rayden, leader of the Lost Cavalry. We are the last solders of the armies of Griblund; overrun by the mage king Arnoran. We seek council with your king, and come to you for aid in this task." Commander Rayden said, as he bowed in the formal military manner of solders to royalty.

   The regent was about to speak, but was saved by the announcement of another guest. The royal courier had arrived, and was escorted to the hall while everyone waited. He walked up to the regent and handed him a letter with the royal seal on it, and then he turned to Menimeth, and asked.

   "Are you the dragon man?"

   "Yes he is." Falendor replied, and looked at Menimeth with regret.

   "This is for you then." The courier said, and handed Menimeth a similar letter as the one handed to the regent.

   Falendor opened the letter and read it before speaking. He already knew what was in it, but went through the formalities anyway.

   "You are in luck commander. A council of regents has been called, and we are to leave immediately. You may come with us if you wish, and you will be able to speak to the council." Falendor said to Commander Rayden.

   "Thank you sir, we will be honored to accompany you." The commander replied, and bowed again.

   Menimeth read the letter and was not surprised to find he was summoned before the council. What did surprise him was the note from the Royal Steward, and his request to see him first. He did not mention that part of the letter, but did acknowledge the summons to the council.

   "Good, then we shall all leave in the morning two days from now. That should give you time to rest and prepare for the trip." Falendor said, as he stood to leave the hall. "We shall see you all again then, and we will talk more along the way."

   The men left the castle, and went to the main room of the Red Falcon, for a pint of ale to wash the dust from their throats. Kyler and Feran were already there, and sat at the table Menimeth always chose when they were in the tavern. The men took their seats around the table, but saved the seat against the wall for their leader. Menimeth spoke quietly with Farlin at the bar before joining his friends at the table, and Farlin disappeared from the inn soon after. A new man worked for the innkeeper, and brought the men their goblets, after Menimeth had taken his seat against the wall.

   "Why were you given a summons to the council?" Javen asked, after the new bartender had returned to his duties.

   "Because you are the king."

   "Not yet, my friend." Menimeth told his dragon.

   "He is a threat to the regents power because he is the, you know what." Litlorn said in an almost whisper.

   "Not yet." He said to Litlorn, and looked at his friends around the table.

   "Where is your, umm, friend." Commander Rayden asked, and looked out the window as he did.

   "He is out hunting, and will stay out of sight until I call him." Menimeth replied.

   "This could get interesting before it is over." Commander Rayden said, as he sipped his ale.

   "You are right about that my friend. It could get very interesting, and sooner than we want." The dragon rider replied.

   Farlin returned to the inn, and walked to the table where the warriors sat. He carried several packages with him, and he handed them to Menimeth when he reached the table.

   "This is what you ordered, and here is the money from the sale of the goods you brought in." He said, and sat the coin purse down on the table in front of Menimeth. "There is close to one hundred gold coin in the purse, and I still have some to collect."

   "Thank you Farlin, I am in your debt." Menimeth replied.

   "You owe me nothing. I sold the armor and swords to the solders at the garrison, and made a good amount from the sales myself." Farlin told him, "And now the solders are better armed and protected than before."

   Litlorn ordered another round for his companions, and Farlin went to fetch them. Inside the packages that Menimeth had received from Farlin, was the armor he had promised Chanry, and he put it on as soon as he received it. It was made to adjust to a growing boy, and had the dragon symbol on the chest like the men. Chanry was very proud of his armor, and wore it always.

   The next day Menimeth and his friends spent preparing for the trip to Corlindum. The regent had released the men from the fair that morning, and they began to leave Argnon to return to their homes. They came to Menimeth and thanked him for their release before leaving, and the two men from Alenvale that had failed at the fair the last time, were among them. Kyler's father was one of the men that came to thank the dragon warrior, and he was surprised to find his son with the man. Kyler had not seen his father since the fair three years earlier, and was happy to see him again. They talked about the village, and the fair that had just been completed, but mostly they talked about Menimeth. Feran was the only one of the three that was married, so it was decided that he would take the wounded men back to Alenvale, before returning to Argnon and then following them to Corlindum.

   Menimeth picked out the best horse from those that had been ridden by the brigands, and purchased a saddle and tack to go on it. Chanry had turned nine while they were at the monastery, and Menimeth gave him the horse for his birthday. The horse was brown with a white splash on his chest, and a white spot on his forehead in the shape of a star. Chanry loved the horse, and named it Strider because he could run so fast. He had never been given a horse before, and spent most of that day in the stables with him.

   The armor he now wore was something boys his age, or any age, only dreamed about, but never received. Saddle blankets had been made for all of the horses of his friends with the dragon symbol stitched into it, and bordered in the purple and gold colors of the Great Dragon Empire. Menimeth designed them with the help if his dragon, and passed them out to his friends. Cloaks with the dragon symbol on them, and in the purple and gold, were also given to all of them, and they wore them proudly. From now on, Menimeth and his companions would travel as dragon warriors of the empire. The four members of his group had sworn an allegiance to the new Great Dragon Empire and their leader, who they believed was its rightful king. Menimeth gave them the name "Dragon Guard", because the Empire was what they swore to protect with their lives. Litlorn received these items as well, but he was the heir to the throne of Latrelarn, and was bound by that oath beyond the rest.

   Farlin was given the remaining armor, weapons, and horses, taken from the dead outlaws of the monastery, to sell to the solders of the realm. The west would fight the brigands with their own weapons and armor Menimeth thought, but the problem was that there were not enough solders in the west to defend it. He needed all of the regent's help if he was to drive off the solders that invaded the empire in the west, but had little hope in getting it easily.

   The next morning, Feran and the three men he was escorting, set out for Alenvale early, and Kyler's father was speechless when he was given the three hundred gold coins from the crossroads. He looked at his son with pride, and followed as Feran led the group onto the great road, and turned west. Feran would see his friends again after he had gotten the men home safely, but he regretted leaving them behind to begin with.

   Menimeth and his men rode from the inn as a group, and stopped at the garrison beside Commander Rayden. Commander Rayden and Dorben sat on their horses at the gates, while his men sat in formation and awaited their orders. Captain Brannor and thirty of his best solders, were mounted, and in the garrison courtyard with their banners unfurled. The blue and yellow colors of the western realm dominated the courtyard, and the solders of the guard that were assembled there.

   Falendor was already mounted, and his family was in the carriages, when the gates of the castle opened, and the journey began. Captain Brannor led the way, and the regent's party followed, and as Falendor passed Menimeth and his companions, he was shocked to see them in the royal colors of the Great Dragon Empire. This would not go over well with the other regents Falendor thought, the man had gone too far this time, and Falendor did not know if he could keep him from being arrested. He would just have to wait and see how they reacted first, and then he would decide what he could do for the warrior.

   Menimeth and his companions followed the servants that made up the end of the regents party, and the solders of the Lost Cavalry fell in behind them. Commander Rayden rode beside Menimeth, and Dorben rode beside Litlorn, as the precession made it's way onto the Great Western Road. It was a long way to Corlindum, and the commander talked to Menimeth about the outlaws and the empire along the way. Chanry was just behind his master, and the men from Alenvale who made up the rest of the Dragon Guard, followed behind Litlorn and Dorben.

   The last two horsemen of the Lost Cavalry turned south when they reached the road to the monastery. They had received their orders earlier that morning, and leaving the group, they turned, disappearing down the road to the south. They would be back before their Commander was in Corlindum, and they would not be alone.

   The Road was empty for most of the day, and few travelers passed them as they made their way along it. The day was nearing its end when they reached the first campground selected by the regent, and the camp was set up for the night. The men of the Lost Cavalry camped among the purple and gold tents that Menimeth had provided for his Dragon Guard, and it made their part of the camp larger. Each of the four members of the guard had received their own tent, and there were several more available among the supplies. Commander Rayden and the other Officers of his Cavalry were each placed in an extra tent, and Dorben was given one as well.

   Menimeth had the biggest tent of those in his group, and it was set up in the center of their part of the campground. The other tents were arranged around it in the military style used by the Great Dragon Empire of the past, but the solders of the Lost Cavalry used the small red and white tents that the solders of their kingdom always carried. It did not go unnoticed by the regent, and the summons came only moments after the camp was completed.